Jetting into LA last Friday, hours after quitting my job in Albuquerque, I needed a weekend ‘home’ in LA and didn’t even know it. Every moment was GOLDEN. Here are but a few highlights:

1. Running up Washington Blvd, the heaviness of the salty ocean air hits me like an old friend.

2. The door man at Hinano didn’t need my ID; he said, “Girl, where you been? I know them blue eyes. Get yo’ ass in there!”

3. Group hug after group hug from my Venice peeps while I caught a 3BB (three beer buzz).

4. 15-mile solo oceanside mid-afternoon bike ride on my yellow Schwinn, which I miss very much.

5. Riding my bike on Speedway in Venice just after sunset and running into at least 7 close friends within 5 minutes. That’s more than 1 friend per minute!

6. Being fed tri-tip and Austrailian wine at Theory with yet another group of awesome friends.

7. Dog-piling the couch to watch Lawrence of Arabia.

8. Being woken up at 4AM by a herd of drunks who landed near my couch.

9. The shenanigan at Barnes & Noble.

10. Taking a nap at my Mar Vista art studio.

1. House-sitter runs out for a wine opener at midnight.
2. House-sitter runs out for cat food at midnight.
3. House-sitter runs out for cheesecake, albeit the frozen variety, at midnight.
4. I am able to resist the midnight desert wine and frozen cheesecake.
5. I am able to resist round #2 of my own personal Iron Chef competition.
6. I wake up easily with a misty LA morning sunrise - so beautiful!
7. Very attractive male friend drops me off at LAX in the early morn.
8. Same very attractive male friend offers to pick me up upon my return to LAX.
9. Spare key set found in coat pocket while at security checkpoint after I thought I’d lost them.
10. The discovery of a type A 40-par light bulb in my purse when going through security makes me giggle. Giggling needs to happen more at airport security.